Electrical-oscillation system.



'E. & W. H. WILSON.

ELECTRICAL OSCILLATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATON flLED NOV. 23. m0.

1,181,711. Patented May 2,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET la? Invenwrs P 5mm A M/z; p Ammo/j E. & W. H. WILSON.

ELECTRICAL OSCILLATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, I9).

Patented May 2, 1916. 4 SHEETSSHEET 2 E. & W. H. WILSON. ELECTRICALOSCILLATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1910.

1, 18 1 ,71 1 Patented May 2, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mlfnbsss Inventors E. & W. H. WILSON. ELECTRICAL OSCILLATION SYSTEM.APPLICATIQII min nov. 23. mo

1,18 1,71.1. Patented May2,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST WILSON, OF BLACKHEATH, AND WILLIAM HAMILTON WILSON, OF NORBITON,ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO INDO-EUROPEAN TELEGRAPHCOMPANY LIMITED, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND. v

ELECTRICAL-OSCILLATION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed November 23, 1910. Serial No. 593,864.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ERNEST \VILsoN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at 64 St. Johns park, Blackheath, 1n the county ofLondon, England, professor of electrical engineering, and lVnmrAM HAM-mrox lVinsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 14Cobham road, Norbiton, in the county of Surrey, England, electricalengineer, have invented new and useful Electrical -Oscill ation Systems,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing high potentialdischarges by the rapid passage of energy originally stored in acapacity or inductance through the pr1- mary winding of an inductioncoil or other transforming device. In certain apparatus of this classemployed hitherto, the primary of the transforming device and acondenser have been bridged in series across the contacts between whichthe supply from the prime source to the inductance is interrupted; thisconnection has the disadvantages that (1) the transference of energyfrom the magnetic field of the inductance to the primary and condenserwhich are subsequently short circuited on themselves takes place throughthe prime source, and '(2) no use is made of the condenser in theinitial storage of energy from the source. An ther method is to join thecondenser in parallel with the inductance and subsequently to connectthe primary in parallel with both, but the result of this is that-someof the energy of the condenser is discharged again through theinductance.

According to the present invention the primary winding of thetransformer and a capacity connected in series are bridged directlyacross the inductance. Thus the condenser as well as the inductancereceives energy from the source, and when after dis connection from thesource this energy has surged into the condenser, preferably for thefirsttime, the condenser and primary are short-circuited,- and theenergy discharges very rapidly and with the minimum loss through theprimary.

In the accompanying drawings some of the more readily practicablemethods of 1 carrying out the,1nvention are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the connections employed when two oscillatorycircuits areanother modification of the contact maker of. Fig. 11 is adetail of the inductance- Fig. 7. employed. Figs. 12 and 13 show furthermodified systems of connections.

Throughout the drawings like numerals indicate like parts.

Referring to the diagram of connections in Fig. l. the essential partsof the appara tus are an external self-inductance 1; an induction coilor transformer 2 having primary and secondary windings; a condenser 23.and a suitable contact maker The connections are as follows: Theexternal selfinductance 1 is placed in series with the primary winding 5of the induction coil and forms one circuit. In parallel with thiscircuit is placed the condenser 3. The contact maker l performs thefollowing operations; (a) it connects these two parallel circuits to aconductor 6 which is connected to the source of supply 8. The source ofsupply 8 causes a current to flow through the coils l and 5 therebyestablishing magnetic fields therein; and at the same time it chargesthe condenser 3. (7)) It disconnects the two parallel circuits from theconductor 6 and thereby from the source 8, and leaves them with theinductance 1. the primary winding 5, and the condenser 8 in seriesthereby forming an oscillating circuit of comparatively long periodictime. The condenser 3 discharges through the external inductance 1 andthe primary winding 5 and adds its energy to that already stored inthose windings. The magnetic fields in the external inductance 1 and theprimary winding 5 now be in to diminish and the condenser 3 becomescharged in-the reverse direction. At the moment the condenser 3 is fullycharged in this reverse direction, the contact maker 4-performs itsthird operation (0) namely it short circuits circuit .noW. consists ofthe condenser 3 in series with the primary windin 5, the periodic timeof which is smaller than in the first case when the inductance 1 was notshort circuitcd. The condenser 3 now discharges with great rapiditythrough the primary winding 5. thereby inducing a large electromotiveforce in the secondary winding 9 of the induction coil 2. This completesone cycle of operations and is repeated by aid of the contact maker 4.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 is in re'- ard to the point ofattachment of the conductor 7 with the inductance 1. It may happen thatthe apparatus has to be adapted M) work with different voltages betweenthe conductors 6 and 7. The connections in Fig. 2 provide for this by anadjustment of the effective inductance, so as to take a larger currentfrom the source 8 if the voltage thereof is reduced. This method ofconnection has the advantage that the condenser is charged to a voltageconsiderably higher than that of the source 8, the coil 1 acting as anauto-transformer. Consequently a very much larger proportion of energycan be stored in the condenser so that the condenser may even store thegreater part of the total energy. The same end may be attained bysupplying energy to the field of the inductance through a separatewinding. This is illustrated in Fig. 12 where 13 indicates a primarywind ing upon the core of the inductance 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation and Fig. 4 a de- /el0pment of one convenient formof contact maker shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown inFigs. 3 and 4 the contact maker consists of a drum of insulationmaterial 14 on which bear three brushes ll, 12, 13 connectedrespectively to, first, the junction between the condenser 3 and theinductance 1, second. the conductor 6 leading to one pole of the source8, and third, the junction between the external inductance 1 and theprimary winding 5 of the mduction coil 2. The insulating drum 14 carriesa metal piece 15 so devised that the above connections by aid of thebrushes 11, 12, 13 are automatically made in their proper order as thecontactmaker is revolved by the motor 16. It convenient to so mount thebrushes that one of them 13 is adjustable; the adjustment beingnecessitated by the fact that the motor 16 may not always run at thesame speed, that is the external inductance 1 would not beshortcircuited at the precise moment when the condenser is fullycharged. The time which should elapse before the short circniting' ofthe external inductance 1 after disconnec tion from the mains is fixedand depends upon the value of the selfinduction and the capacity of thecondenser, the short circuiting occurring when the whole of the energyhas surged into the condenser, preferably for the first time. Obviouslythis time will be different for a fixed position of the brush 13 if thespeed of the motor varies, and therefore it is essential to provide foran adjustment of the brush 13.

F g. 5 is a plan and Fig. 6 a sectional ole. tion of another form ofcontact maker which we find convenient. In it mercury 17 is raised by arotating Archimedean screw 18 and thrown out horizontally through anozzle 19. The jet of mercury 21 thus formed makes contact successivelywith sectors 22. 23 supported on the insulating cover. The jet ofmercury 21 and the sectors 23 correspond respectively to the brushes 11.12, 13 in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and

they can be made to replace them in the diagram of connections as theyperform the same functions respectively. The contact sector is mountedin such manner that by aid of the milled head 20 it can be movedconcentrically with the axis of the i\rchi-' median screw 18. As shownin Figs. 5 and 6 this is conveniently carried out by aid of a worm 39and worm sector 10. The contacts 22 and 23 are connected by conductorswith the terminals 32, on'the insulating cover respectively, while aterminal 31 on the metal containing vessel serves to establishelectrical contact with the mercury jet 21. A small motor coupled to theshaft 25 drives the Archimedean screw 18 and is conveniently mounted onthe ebonite cover 26. In the event of the source 8 being one of directcurrents. the motors above mentioned are small direct current motors,driven from the same source for convenience, and it is only necessary tomake the suitable adjustments of the brushes or contacts to suit thetime intervals required by the system in its various states. If thesource of supply 8 is an alternating current one, the contact maker canconveniently be rotated by a synchronous motor. In this case if everyhalf period is to be utilized the polarity of the source must bereversed once in each half period. Fig. 7 is a development of a contactmaker suitable for this purpose, and shows the connections to thesystem.In it the hatched portion 14 is the drum of insulation material on whichare mounted metal pieces 34, 35, 36 and 37. In addition to the brushes11, 12. 13 brushes 27, are required. The metal pieces 35, 36 arerespectively connected to the metal pieces 37, 34 by aid of conductors29, 30 which are taken through the insulation so as not to be touched bythe brushes bearing on the surface of the drum. If the connections befollowed out assuming that the drum rotates in the direction of thearrow, it will be seen thatthe parallel circuits consisting of'(1)thecondenser 3 and (2) the external inductance 1 and the primary winding5, are charged to like polarity twice in each period; a periodcorresponding to one complete revolution of the contact maker shown indevelopment in Fig. 7. The reversal takes place at the moment the supplycurrent changes sign, and therefore the contact maker must have therequired position on the motor shaft relatively to the motor armature.It follows that the supply mains 6 and 7 must be disconnected from thesystem twice in each period at the epoch when the electromotive force isnear its maximum. Instead of rectifying the alternating current it ispossible to rectify the impulses transmitted to the primary of theinduction coil.

As already indicated the oscillating circuit made up of the condenserinductance and the primary winding, is separated from the mains. Theenergy oscillates between the inductance and the condenser. The shortcircuiting connection is completed when all the energy is stored in thecondenser but now at successive surgings the condenser is charged inopposite directions. Therefore if for one half period of the alternatingcurrent supplied short circuiting is made to take place when thecondenser is charged for the first time and for the next half period ofthe alternating current supplied the short circuiting is made to takeplace when the condenser is charged the second time. these two chargeswill be of like polarity and therefore the subsequent discharges throughthe primary of the induction coil will be of similar sign. Thus insteadof providing the rectifying contacts indicated in Fig. 7 it isonlynecessary to arrange the projecting segments which con tact with thebrush 13 in the manner shown in Fig. 10. Thus one segment 41 must beplaced so that the interval between disconnection from the mains andshort circuiting is equal to the time required for the energy to surgeinto the conductor once, or more generally the time required for any oddnumber of surgings to take place. The other segment 42 is so placed thatthe interval between disconnection from the mains and short circuitingis sufficient for two or for an even number of surgings to occur.

If it is only desired to make use of one half wave of each period of thealternating supply, the contact maker is of simpler construction asshown in development in Fig. 8. It may be driven as before atsynchronous speed. but the reversal of the mains above describedin'connection with Fig. Y is dispensed with. In this case the brushes12. 13 would be insulated during each alternate half period.

' As'above mentioned several variations are possible in the arrangementof condensers and inductances, the fundamental principles beingretained. If desired one pole of the condenser may be disconnected atthe required epoch from the external inductance and be connected to theend of the primary windingof the induction coil which is connected tothe external inductance. This necessitates the modified structure ofcommutator shown in Fig. 13. There are now four brushes 41, 15. 16 and47 connected as shown. In theposition shown the condenser alone isjoined to the mains. \Vhile the segment 15 touches both brushes 45 and46 energy is supplied to the inductance 1 and condenser 3; when thesegment leaves brush 45 the condenser and inductance are still joinedand surging goes on. At the instant when the energy is accumulated inthe condenser the segment must touch brush 47 so that the condenser isbridged across the primary winding 5. It is obviously well, though notessential, that the segment should simultaneously leave brush 46 asotherwise there will be two discharge paths for the condenser.

cuited independent of variations in the speed of the motor.

We find by experiment that the external inductance l. and the inductioncoil 2 may have open or partially closed magnetic circuits. If, however.the magnetic circuit is completely closed the magnetic flux does notfall to zero before the condenser begins to discharge and so its rate ofchange is lessened. \Ve prefer a partially closed magnetic circuit forthe inductance 1, such as is illustrated in Fig. 11. but if when theinductance 1 is short circuited the frequency of the oscillatory currentis sufiiciently high. it may be necessary to have no iron core for thecoil 2. These methods of supplying energy to an induction coil or thelike have the great advantage that a very considerable amount of energymay be passed through the apparatus in a given time. and that withoutserious losses or injurious sparking. For X-ray work our methods havethe further recommendation that the reverse potential applied to thetube electrodes may be very small compared with that which is intendedto produce variations. so that the harmful production of cathoderadiations from the anode is avoided.

\Vhat We claim is: V 1. Apparatus for producing high potentialdischargescomprising a source of supply. an inductance, means forintermittently connecting said inductance to the source of supply so asto store energy in it, a capacity, means for connecting said capacity tosaid inductance independently of said source to permit the stored energyto oscillate, a transforming device, and means for connecting saidcapacity to the prim ry of said transforming device and forsiort-circuiting said inductance.

2. Apparatus for producing'high potential discharges comprising a sourceof supply, an oscillatory circuit of long periodic time independent ofsaid source, means for connecting said circuit intermittently across thesource of supply, and means for reducing the periodic time of saidcircuit after each disconnection from the source of supply at a definiteepoch in the'oscillation of energy in said circuit.

3. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising a sourceof supply, an oscillatory circuit of long periodic time independent ofsaid source. means for intermittently connecting said circuit across thesource of supply and means for reducing the inductance of said circuitafter each disconnection from the source of supply at a definite epochin the oscillation of energy in said circuit.

4. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising a sourceof supply, an oscillatory circuit of long periodic time, means forconnecting said circuit to and disconnecting it from said source ofsupply, and adjustable means for reducing the periodic time of saidcircuit after disconnection from the source of supply at a definite butvariable epoch in the oscillation of energy in said circuit.

5. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising a sourceof supply, an inductance, a capacity, a transforming device, meansconnecting the capacity and the transforming device in series across theinductance, and means for introducing energy from the source into thesaid induc tance and subsequently short-circuiting the inductance.

6. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising a sourceof sup ply, an inductance, a capacity, a transfor mmg device, meansconnecting said capacity across the inductance and the primary of thetransforming device. a rotary contact maker, a motor driving the same.brushes hearing on said contact maker connected respectively with theends of said inductance and with one terminal of the source of supplyand metal segments on said contact maker adapted successively to joinsaid inductance across the source of supply and to short-circuit it.

7. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising a sourceof supply, an inductance, a capacity, a transform: ing device, and meansfor supplying energy simultaneously to said inductance and capacity,means maintaining said inductance and capacity in connection after suchsupply in disconnected, and means for discharging said capacity directlyand Wholly through said transforming device when the energy in thecircuit is accumulated in it.

8. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges, comprising aninductance, a transforming device having its primary. winding in serieswith the inductance, a ca-i, pacity bridged across said inductance andprimary winding. a source of supply, a con-' nection from said source tothe inductance, and means for connecting the end of the in-- ductanceremote from the primary winding' tial discharges comprising a source ofsupply. a capacity, an inductance consisting of windings havingconsiderable mutual 'in ductance. means connecting the capacity acrosssaid windings. means for intermittently connecting a portion of saidwindings across the source of supply and disconnecting it therefrom, atransforming device, and means for intermittently connecting saidcapacity directly across the primary of said transforming device.

11. Apparatus for producing high potential dischargescomprising a sourceof supply, a capacity, an inductance consisting of windings havingconsiderable mutual induc tance, a transforming device, means forconnecting said capacity across said windings and the primary of thetransforming device. means for intermittently connecting a portion ofsaid windings across the supply and disconnecting it therefrom. andmeans for intermittently short-,circuiting said windings.

12. Apparatus for deriving unidirectional electric impulses from analternating current source. comprising an oscillatory circuit made up ofa capacity and inductance, means for introducing energy into saidcircuit. a work circuit, and means for discharging said capacity intosaid work circuit after iit an interval different for successive half'periods.

13. Apparatus vfor producing high potential discharges comprising asource of supply, an inductance, atransforming dev ceq a condenser,means connecting said condenser across the inductance and primary of thetransforming device, means fonintermittently charging said condenserfrom the source of supply to a potential higher than that of saidsource, and means for intermittently short-circuiting the inductance.

14. Apparatus for supplying energy to a transforming device comprising asource of supply, an inductance connected at one pointto the source ofsupply and in series with the primary winding of the transformingdevice, a capacity bridged across said inductance and primary winding, arotary drum and means driving the same, brushes bearing on said drumconnected respectively to the terminals of the inductance and the sourceof supply, and metal segments on said drum having differently spacedpairs of projections, the projections of each pair being adapted to jointhe inductance to the source of supply and to short circuit itrespectively.

15. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising asource of supply, an oscillatory circuit of long periodic time, meansfor intermittently charging the capacity of said circuit'from saidsource to a potential higher than that of said source, and means forintermittently reducing the periodic time of said circuit at a definiteepoch in the oscillation of the charge in said circuit.

16. Apparatus for deriving unidirectional electric impulses from analternating current source comprising a capacity, an inductance, atransforming device, means connecting said capacity across theinductance and transforming device, means intermittently connecting saidcapacity across the alternating current source so as to introduce energyduring each half period, and adjustable means for short-circuiting saidinductance when the capacity is charged to a given polarity.

17. Apparatus ,for deriving unidirectional electric impulses from analternating current source comprising an oscillatory circuit of longperiodic time, means for introducing energy into said circuit from saidsource during each half period, and adjustable means for reducing theperiodic time of said circuit at a definite phase in the oscillations ofenergy in said circuit.

18. Apparatus for .producing high potential discharges comprising aninductance, a capacity, a transforming device, means for supplyingenergy to said inductance and capacity, means maintaining saidinductance and capacity in connection after said supply, and means fordischarging said capacity wholly through the primary of saidtransforming device when the energy of the circuit is accumulated insaid capacity.

19. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising asource of supply, an inductance having a nearly closed magnetic circuit,a capacity, a transformin device, means connecting the capacity an thetransforming device in series across the inductance, and means forintroducing energy from the source into said inductance and subsequentlyshort-circuiting the inductance.

20. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising asource of supply, an inductance having a nearly closed magnetic circuit,a capacity, a transforming device, and means for supplying energysimultaneously to said inductance and capacity, means maintaining saidinductance and capacity in connection after such supply, and means fordischarging said capacity after an interval directly and wholly throughsaid transforming device.

21. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges, comprising aninductance having a nearly closed magnetic circuit, a transformingdevice having its primary winding in series with the inductance, acapacity bridged across said inductance and primary uinding, a source ofsupply, a connection from said source to the inductance, and means forconnecting the end of the inductance remote from the primary windingalternately to the source of supply and to the junction of theinductance and primary winding.

22. Apparatus for producing high potential discharges comprising asource of supply, an inductance, a capacity, a transforming devicehaving an almost closed magnetic circuit, means connecting the capacityand the transforming device in series across the inductance, and meansfor introducing energy from the source into said in mary winding inseries with the inductance, a capacity bridged across said inductanceand primary winding, a source of supply, a, connection from said sourceto the inductance, and means for eonnertimg the end of the inductancereniote-from the primary winding alternately to the source of supply andto the junction of the inductance and primary winding.

In testimony whereof we have signed our 1) names to this specificationin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST 'ILSON 'ILLTAM HAMILTON VILSON.

'itnesses V Lnoxmro E. HAYNEs, HERBERT D. JAMESON.

copies of thh patent may be obtained for five cents eiach, by addressingthe Washington, D. 0."

Commissioner of Patents

